Phase locked loop calibration

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling a modulation signal for modulating a phase locked loop. A scaling control signal for scaling the modulation signal is generated using the error signal of the phase locked loop. The scaling control signal is adjusted when the modulation signal and the phase of the modulation signal have the same sign.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for controlling amodulation signal for modulating a phase locked loop.

2. Description of the Related Art

Phase locked loops have a variety of applications, for example infrequency generation in wireless communication equipment. A basic phaselocked loop comprises a variable frequency oscillator whose frequencyand phase is controlled by an error signal, the error signal beinggenerated by a phase detector that compares the phase of the oscillatoroutput signal with the phase of a reference signal. The loop contains alow pass filter for filtering the error signal before it is applied tocontrol the oscillator. Typically the oscillator operates at a higherfrequency than the reference signal, and the loop includes a divider fordividing the oscillator output signal, such that the phase detectorcompares the divided signal with the reference signal.

The loop performance depends, among other things, on the gain of theoscillator, the gain being a measure of the change of oscillatorfrequency in response to a change in the error signal. As the oscillatoris typically an analogue circuit, the loop performance is susceptible tovariations in analogue circuit characteristics, due to, for example,temperature or voltage changes or manufacturing process spread, whichlead to variations in oscillator gain.

In a wireless transmitter, in which a carrier signal is modulated by amodulation signal, it can be advantageous to apply the modulation to aphase locked loop, rather than to a mixer which would entail anadditional RF circuit. A modulation signal can be applied to the inputof the oscillator and/or used to control the division ratio of thedivider. Schemes in which the modulation signal is applied to both theoscillator and the divider are known as two-point modulation schemes.However, variations in oscillator gain will lead to variations in themodulated carrier signal. In particular, if the oscillator gain isideal, the transfer function for the modulation from the input of theoscillator to the output of the phase locked loop, that is the output ofthe oscillator, is an all-pass filter. However, if the oscillator gainis too high, high frequencies of the modulation signal are amplified toomuch, and if the oscillator gain is too low, high frequencies of themodulation signal are amplified too little.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a way of calibrating a phaselocked loop to compensate for variations in oscillator gain. Suchcalibration can be performed by scaling the modulation signal applied tothe input of the oscillator. Successful calibration requires appropriatecontrol of the degree of scaling.

WO 2004/034564 discloses a scheme for calibrating oscillator gain inwhich a correction signal is derived from a phase error signal, and inwhich the polarity of the error signal is measured by correlating theerror signal with a modulation signal.

US 2007/0103240 discloses a scheme for gain calibration of a digitallycontrolled oscillator in which a phase error signal is sampled, eithercontinuously or when zero crossings occur in an input data frequencycontrol word, a gradient is generated from the samples and by using thesign of the data, and the oscillator gain estimate is adjusted inaccordance with the gradient.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to an embodiment there is provided an apparatus forcontrolling a modulation signal for modulating a phase locked loop, thephase locked loop providing an error signal indicative of a phase errorin the phase locked loop, the apparatus comprising:

a scaling controller for generating a scaling control signal dependenton the error signal for controlling scaling of the modulation signal;and

a sign detector for generating an indication of whether the sign of themodulation signal relative to a first threshold value and the sign ofthe phase of the modulation signal relative to a second threshold valueare the same;

wherein the scaling controller is adapted to adjust the scaling controlsignal in response to the indication.

In an embodiment the scaling controller is adapted to adjust the scalingcontrol signal only when the modulation signal and the phase of themodulation signal have the same sign. In an embodiment, the signdetector comprises: a first comparator for generating a first bipolarsignal indicative of the sign of the modulation signal relative to thefirst threshold value; a second comparator for generating a secondbipolar signal indicative of the sign of the phase of the modulationsignal relative to the second threshold value; and a summer forgenerating said indication by summing the first bipolar signal and thesecond bipolar signal. In an embodiment, the sign detector comprisesphase determination stage for determining a phase signal indicative ofthe phase of the modulation signal. In an embodiment, the sign detectorcomprises a delay stage for delaying at least one of the first bipolarsignal and the second bipolar signal. In an embodiment, the signdetector comprises a first filter arranged to filter at least one of themodulation signal and a phase signal indicative of the phase of themodulation signal. In an embodiment, the scaling controller comprises: athird comparator for generating a third bipolar signal indicative of thesign of the error signal relative to a third threshold value; and amultiplier for multiplying the third bipolar signal by said indication.In an embodiment, the scaling controller comprises a first scaling stagecoupled to an output of the multiplier for controlling the magnitude ofthe scaling control signal. In an embodiment, the scaling controllercomprises a second filter coupled to an output of the first scalingstage. In an embodiment, the scaling controller comprises a third filterfor filtering the error signal. In an embodiment, the apparatus furthercomprises a second scaling stage for scaling the modulation signal inresponse to the scaling control signal.

According to an embodiment there is provided a method for controlling amodulation signal for modulating a phase locked loop, the phase lockedloop providing an error signal indicative of a phase error in the phaselocked loop, the method comprising: generating a scaling control signaldependent on the error signal for controlling scaling of the modulationsignal; generating an indication of whether the sign of the modulationsignal relative to a first threshold value and the sign of the phase ofthe modulation signal relative to a second threshold value are the same;and adjusting the scaling control signal in response to the indication.

An embodiment calibrates a variable frequency oscillator of a phaselocked loop by adjusting of the scaling of a modulation signal dependenton the modulation signal and the phase of the modulation signal havingthe same sign.

An embodiment may operate during normal operation of a phase locked loopwithout requiring dedicated time periods for calibration or a dedicatedmodulation signal. An embodiment may be independent of the spectralcontent of the modulation signal, such that different modulation signalscan be applied without having to redesign the calibration scheme toensure stability. This is beneficial in current communicationenvironments where manufacturers of communications equipment are seekingto provide multi-mode equipment capable of operating in accordance witha variety of communication standards such as GSM, Bluetooth™, DECT, andUMTS. Furthermore, an embodiment may readily be implemented in eitheranalog or digital hardware or in software.

An embodiment may be implemented in computer software or computerprogram code adapted to carry out embodiments of the methods whenexecuted by a processor.

Optionally, in an embodiment the scaling controller may be adapted toadjust the scaling control signal only when the modulation signal andthe phase of the modulation signal have the same sign. Correspondingly,in an embodiment the method may comprise adjusting the scaling controlsignal only when the modulation signal and the phase of the modulationsignal have the same sign. This may reduce the likelihood of erroneousadjustment.

Optionally, in an embodiment the sign detector may comprise a firstcomparator for generating a first bipolar signal indicative of the signof the modulation signal, a second comparator for generating a secondbipolar signal indicative of the sign of the phase of the modulationsignal, and a summer for generating said indication by summing the firstbipolar signal and the second bipolar signal. This provides a way ofdetermining when the modulation signal and the phase of the modulationsignal have the same sign.

Optionally, in an embodiment the sign detector may comprise phasedetermination stage for determining a phase signal indicative of thephase of the modulation signal. The phase of the modulation signal maybe determined by the apparatus.

Optionally, in an embodiment the sign detector may comprise a delaystage for delaying at least one of the first bipolar signal and thesecond bipolar signal. This facilitates compensation for a timedifference between the first and second bipolar signals, or compensationfor delay between controlling the modulation signal in the apparatus andthe response of a phase locked loop to which the apparatus is coupled tothe modulation signal.

Optionally, in an embodiment the sign detector may comprise a firstfilter arranged to filter at least one of the modulation signal and aphase signal indicative of the phase of the phase of the modulationsignal. This may provide delay and/or noise reduction.

Optionally, in an embodiment the scaling controller may comprise a thirdcomparator for generating a third bipolar signal indicative of the signof the error signal relative to a third threshold value, and amultiplier for multiplying the third bipolar signal by said indication.This provides a way of controlling when scaling adjustment may takeplace.

Optionally, in an embodiment the scaling controller may comprise a firstscaling stage coupled to an output of the multiplier for controlling themagnitude of the scaling control signal. In this way the magnitude ofthe scaling control signal is dependent on the sign of the error signal,the sign of the modulation signal and the sign of the phase of themodulation signal.

Optionally, in an embodiment the scaling controller may comprise asecond filter coupled to an output of the first scaling stage. Thisfacilitates smoothing of the scaling control signal.

Optionally, in an embodiment the scaling controller may comprise a thirdfilter for filtering the error signal. This facilitates noise reductionof the error signal.

Optionally, in an embodiment the apparatus may comprise a second scalingstage for scaling the modulation signal in response to the scalingcontrol signal. Scaling of the modulation signal may be incorporatedinto the apparatus.

An embodiment also provides a phase locked loop as described herein, avariable frequency oscillator for generating an oscillator signal at anoscillator frequency, a phase comparator for generating the error signalindicative of a phase difference between the oscillator signal and areference signal, a loop filter for filtering the error signal toprovide a filtered error signal, and a coupling stage for coupling themodulation signal, scaled in response to the scaling control signal, incombination with the filtered error signal to the oscillator forcontrolling the oscillator frequency.

In an embodiment, the phase locked loop may comprise a divider fordividing the oscillator signal, in which case the error signal may beindicative of a phase difference between the divided oscillator signaland a reference signal.

Such a phase locked loop may be adapted for single-point modulation ofthe oscillator, or for two-point modulation in which also the divider isadapted to divide the oscillator signal using a variable division ratio,the divider comprising an input for varying the division ratio inresponse to the phase of the modulation signal.

In such a phase locked loop, the delay introduced by the delay stage ofthe sign detector may correspond to a delay between a change in themodulation signal and a consequent change in the error signal. In thisway, any difference between the delay in controlling the modulationsignal in the apparatus and the response time of the phase locked loopto the modulation signal can be fully or partially compensated for.

An embodiment also provides a wireless communication device comprising aphase locked loop and an apparatus according to the embodimentsdescribed herein.

In an embodiment a phase locked loop comprises: an apparatus configuredto generate a modulation signal; a variable frequency oscillator forgenerating an oscillator signal at an oscillator frequency; a phasecomparator for generating the error signal indicative of a phasedifference between the oscillator signal and a reference signal; a loopfilter for filtering the error signal to provide a filtered errorsignal; and a coupling stage for coupling the modulation signal, scaledin response to the scaling control signal, in combination with thefiltered error signal to the variable frequency oscillator forcontrolling the oscillator frequency. In an embodiment, the phase lockedloop comprises a divider for dividing the oscillator signal, and whereinthe error signal is indicative of a phase difference between the dividedoscillator signal and a reference signal. In an embodiment the divideris adapted to divide the oscillator signal using a variable divisionratio, and the divider comprises an input for varying the division ratioin response to the phase of the modulation signal. In an embodiment, adelay introduced by a delay stage corresponds to a delay between achange in the modulation signal and a consequent change in the errorsignal. In an embodiment, a wireless communication device comprises aphase locked loop as described herein.

In an embodiment, a method for controlling a modulation signal formodulating a phase locked loop, the phase locked loop providing an errorsignal indicative of a phase error in the phase locked loop, comprises:generating a scaling control signal dependent on the error signal forcontrolling scaling of the modulation signal; generating an indicationof whether the sign of the modulation signal relative to a firstthreshold value and the sign of the phase of the modulation signalrelative to a second threshold value are the same; and adjusting thescaling control signal in response to the indication. In an embodiment,the method comprising adjusting the scaling control signal only when themodulation signal and the phase of the modulation signal have the samesign. In an embodiment, a computer program code is adapted to performthe method when executed by a processor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of a phase locked loop comprising acalibrator in accordance with an embodiment coupled to a phase lockmodule;

FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of a sign detector;

FIG. 3 is a block schematic diagram of a scaling controller;

FIG. 4 is a block schematic diagram of a wireless communication device;

FIGS. 5A-5C is a diagram of waveforms without a phase shift;

FIGS. 6A-6C is a diagram of waveforms with a phase shift;

FIGS. 7A-7E is a diagram of waveforms when the phase of the modulationis employed; and

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a system implemented with aprocessor executing instructions stored in a memory.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are given toprovide a thorough understanding of embodiments. The embodiments can bepracticed without one or more of the specific details, or with othermethods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-knownstructures, materials, or operations are not shown or described indetail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in oneembodiment” “according to an embodiment” or “in an embodiment” andsimilar phrases in various places throughout this specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, theparticular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined inany suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do notinterpret the scope or meaning of the embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a phase locked loop 500 inaccordance with an embodiment comprising a calibrator 100 and a phaselock module 200. The phase lock module 200 may be, for example, aconventional phase locked loop.

Describing first the phase lock module 200, it comprises a variablefrequency oscillator 240, such as a voltage controlled oscillator or adigitally controlled oscillator. The variable frequency oscillator 240provides an oscillator signal at an output 260. The output 260 iscoupled to an input of a divider 250 for dividing the oscillator signal.The division ratio of the divider 250 may be varied in response to asignal provided at an input 255 of the divider 250. The input 255 is afirst modulation point for modulating the variable frequency oscillator240 with a modulation signal. The divider 250 provides the divided andmodulated oscillator signal at an output 252 which is coupled to a firstinput of a phase comparator 210. A second input 205 of the phasecomparator 210 receives a reference signal generated by a referenceoscillator (not illustrated), such as a crystal oscillator. The phasecomparator 210 provides an error signal at an output which is coupled toan input of a filter 220. The error signal is indicative of the phasedifference between the reference signal and the divided and modulatedoscillator signal. The filtered error signal is coupled to a first inputof a summing stage 230. A second input 233 of the summing stage 230 alsoreceives a modulation signal (which may be the same modulation signalprovided at 255 or a different modulation signal), and the summing stageprovides the sum of the filtered error signal and the modulation signalat an output which is coupled to an input of the variable frequencyoscillator 240 for controlling its frequency. The second input 233 ofthe summing stage 230 thus provides a second modulation point formodulating the variable frequency oscillator 240.

The summing stage 230 may be implemented in various ways. For example,for an analog phase locked loop it may sum voltages, and for a digitalphase locked loop it may sum digital codes. A further possibility is forthe inputs of the summing stage 230 to directly drive independentvaricaps, or capacitor banks, in which case the resulting sum is the sumof capacitance values.

To compensate for variations in the gain of the variable frequencyoscillator 240, the modulation signal may be scaled by a scaling stage310 coupled to the second input 233 of the summing stage 230. Thescaling stage 310 may be, for example, a variable gain amplifier or maybe implemented in a digital processor. Thus as illustrated themodulation signal to be applied to the second modulation point isprovided at an input 235 of the scaling stage 310, and the degree ofscaling by the scaling stage 310 is determined by a scaling controlsignal coupled to a control input of the scaling stage 310. In FIG. 1the scaling stage 310 is shown as separate from the calibrator 100 andthe phase lock module 200, but in practice it may be incorporated intothe calibrator 100 or into the phase lock module 200.

Turning now to the calibrator 100, it comprises a sign detector 10having an input 12 for a modulation signal (which may be the same or adifferent modulation signal). The sign detector 10 provides at an outputan indication of whether the modulation signal and the phase of themodulation signal have the same sign, relative to, respectively, a firstthreshold value and a second threshold value. An embodiment of the signdetector 10 is described in detail below.

The calibrator 100 also comprises a scaling controller 20 which has afirst input 40 coupled to the output of the sign detector 10, and asecond input 22 coupled to receive the error signal from the phase lockmodule 200. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the error signal may be providedto the input 22 from the output of the filter 220. Alternatively, theerror signal may be provided to the input 22 from the input of thefilter 220; in this case separate filtering may be provided for theerror signal supplied to the input 22. The scaling controller 20provides at an output 28 a scaling control signal, and the output 28 iscoupled to the control input of the scaling stage 310. The scalingcontroller 20 is adapted to adjust the scaling control signal inresponse to the error signal, and is also adapted to adjust the scalingcontrol signal only when the modulation signal and the phase of themodulation signal have the same sign, as indicated by the sign detector10. An embodiment of the scaling controller 20 is described in detailbelow.

Before describing embodiments of the sign detector 10 and the scalingcontroller 20, the principles underlying the embodiments will bedescribed. The error signal u(s) of a phase locked loop may be expressedas

$\begin{matrix}{{u(s)} = {\frac{1}{2\pi\; K_{0}} \cdot \frac{1 - k}{1 + \frac{1}{L(s)}} \cdot {w_{m}(s)}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$where s is the Laplace operator, k is the oscillator gain, K₀ is aconstant, L(s) is the open loop transfer function, and w_(m)(s) is themodulation signal. Ideally, k=1, so 1−k represents the gain error. As aninitial approximation, assume that L(s) is large, so that 1+1/L(s)≈1.Therefore,

${u(s)} = {\frac{1 - k}{2\pi\; K_{0}} \cdot {w_{m}(s)}}$

If the error signal u(s) has the same sign as the modulation signalw_(m), then the gain error 1−k is positive, which indicates that theoscillator gain is less than one, so it is too small. If the errorsignal u(s) has the opposite sign to the modulation signal w_(m), thenthe gain error 1−k is negative, which indicates that the oscillator gainis greater than one, so it is too large. From equation (1)sign(u)=sign(1−k).sign(w)where the Laplace operator has been omitted because this is applicablein either the time domain or frequency domain. Thus it can bedetermined, from the sign of the error signal and the modulation signal,whether the gain is too small or too large by evaluating:sign(u).sign(w)=sign(1−k).sign²(w) ie., sign(u).sign(w)=sign(1−k)  (2)because sign²(w)=1.

The approximation that L(s) is large is valid at low frequencies wherethe loop gain is high. However, at high frequencies where the loop gainis lower it is possible that the error signal is delayed by 90 degreeswith respect to the modulation signal. In this case, multiplying signalsthat are 90 degrees apart results in a zero average, and not in a validindication of gain error.

This problem is readily illustrated by means of waveform diagrams. InFIGS. 5, 6 and 7, “sg” is an abbreviation for the sign function,w_(m)(t) represents the modulation signal as a function of time t, u(t)represents the error signal as a function of time, and φ_(m)(t)represents the phase of the modulation signal as a function of time.FIG. 5 illustrates a situation in which the modulation signal and theerror signal are in-phase, resulting in the product v(t) of their signsbeing positive. Therefore, according to equation (2), the oscillatorgain k is too small. FIG. 6 illustrates a situation in which themodulation signal and the error signal are 90 degrees out of phase,resulting in the product v(t) of their signs alternating betweenpositive and negative values, and which if averaged would have a meanvalue of zero. Therefore, in this case a valid indication of whether kis too large or too small is not generated. As the phase differenceapproaches 90 degrees, the indication decreases to zero and so becomesprogressively unreliable. If the phase difference approaches 180degrees, the error signal changes sign and an erroneous indication ofwhether k is too large or too small is generated.

FIG. 7 illustrates a situation in which the modulation signal and theerror signal are 90 degrees out of phase, but now the phase φ_(m)(t) ofthe modulation signal, shown in trace (c), is employed according to anembodiment. The waveforms of sg(φ_(m)(t)) and sg(w_(m)(t)) may bevisualized as cosine and sine waves which have been limited. Trace (d)illustrates the sum of the signs of the modulation signal and the phaseof the modulation signal; where the sign of w_(m)(t) and φ_(m)(t) isdifferent, the sum is zero, and where these signs are the same, the sumis either positive or negative. Trace (e) illustrates the waveform oftrace (d) multiplied by the sign of the error signal u(t). Now, despitethe 90 degree phase shift between the modulation signal and the errorsignal, a positive signal is generated periodically, and this has apositive mean value. Corresponding examples can be generated for otherphase shifts, which demonstrate that a non-zero mean value results whichcan be used for compensation of the oscillator gain, including a phaseshift of around 180 degrees.

Thus, by employing the phase of the modulation signal according to anembodiment, a valid indication can be generated of whether the gain k ofthe oscillator is too small or too large, independent of phase shiftbetween the modulation signal and the error signal, and thus independentof modulation frequency. In this way, an embodiment of a method isprovided for assessing and adjusting the value of k which is independentof the frequency content of the modulation signal and independent of thephase response of the phase locked loop.

An embodiment of the sign detector 10 will now be described in moredetail, with reference to FIG. 2. The sign detector 10 comprises a firstcomparator 15 coupled to the input 12 for comparing the modulationsignal with the first threshold value, and for providing at an output ofthe comparator 15 a first sign signal indicative of whether themodulation signal is greater than or less than the first threshold. Inan embodiment any DC component of the modulation signal is removed, inwhich case the first threshold value can be zero. The first sign signalprovided at the output of the comparator 15 is a bipolar signal, and mayhave for example a value +1 or −1 according to whether the modulationsignal is greater than or less than the first threshold.

Also coupled to the input 12 is a phase determination stage 16 fordetermining a phase signal indicative of the phase of the modulationsignal. The phase determination stage 16 may be, for example, anintegrator. Alternatively, the phase determination stage 16 may beomitted and the sign detector 10 supplied with the phase signal on afurther input (not illustrated). An output of the phase determinationstage 16, or alternatively the further input, is coupled to an input ofa second comparator 19 for comparing the phase signal with the secondthreshold value, and for providing at an output of the comparator 19 asecond sign signal indicative of whether the phase signal is greaterthan or less than the second threshold. In an embodiment any DCcomponent of the phase signal may be removed, in which case the secondthreshold value can be zero. The second sign signal provided at theoutput of the comparator 19 is a bipolar signal, and may have forexample a value +1 or −1 according to whether the phase signal isgreater than or less than the second threshold.

The output of the first comparator 15 and the output of the secondcomparator 19 are coupled to respective inputs of a summer 11 which sumsthe first and second sign signals and provides at an output anindication of whether the first and second sign signals have the samesign, thereby providing an indication of whether the modulation signaland the phase of the modulation signal have the same sign relative totheir respective first and second threshold values. If the first andsecond sign signals can both have values +1 and −1, the indication atthe output of the summer 11 can have values +2, 0 and −2. The value zerooccurs when the modulation signal and the phase of the modulation signalhave the different signs, and the values +2 and −2 occur when modulationsignal and the phase of the modulation signal have the same sign.

FIG. 2 also illustrates optional delay stages 13 and filters 14 whichare described below.

An embodiment of the scaling controller 20 will now be described in moredetail, with reference to FIG. 3. The scaling controller 20 comprises athird comparator 24 for comparing the error signal provided at the input22 with a third threshold value, and for providing at an output of thecomparator 24 a third sign signal indicative of whether the error signalis greater than or less than the third threshold. Preferably any DCcomponent of the error signal is removed, in which case the thirdthreshold value can be zero. The third sign signal provided at theoutput of the comparator 24 is a bipolar signal, and preferably has avalue +1 or −1 according to whether the error signal is greater than orless than the third threshold.

The output of the comparator 24 is coupled to a first input of amultiplier 25, and the input 40 is coupled to a second input of themultiplier 25. The multiplier 25 multiplies the third sign signal by theindication of whether the modulation signal and the phase of themodulation signal have the same sign, which is provided at the output ofthe summer 11 of the sign detector 10. When the third sign signal canhave values +1 and −1, and the indication provided at the output of thesummer 11 can have the values +2, 0 and −2, the values resulting frommultiplication by the multiplier 25 can have also the values +2, 0 and−2. The value zero occurs when the modulation signal and the phase ofthe modulation signal have the different signs, and the values +2 and −2occur, dependent on the sign of the error signal, when modulation signaland the phase of the modulation signal have the same sign. The output ofthe multiplier 25 is coupled to the output 28 of the scaling controlstage 20 via a first scaling stage 26, for example an amplifier, and afilter 27, which functions as an integrator, to provide the scalingcontrol signal. While the output of the multiplier 25 provides a valueof zero, the scaling control signal is also zero and so no adjustment ismade, and the integrator holds the current value of the scaling controlsignal.

Optionally, the sign detector 10 may comprise an optional delay stage 13a and an optional filter 14 a either or both of which may be coupledbetween the input 12 and the comparator 15 to delay and/or filter themodulation signal. Likewise, optionally a delay stage 13 b and/or afilter 14 b may be coupled between the phase determination stage 16 andthe comparator 15 to delay and/or filter the phase signal. The delaystages 13 a and 13 b (together identified by reference numeral 13) andfilters 14 a and 14 b (together identified by reference numeral 14) maybe used to fully or partially compensate for unequal delays of signalsin the calibrator 100 or phase lock module 200 and to reduce noise. Inparticular, the modulation signal may be delayed by a period equivalentto the delay between a change in the modulation signal and a consequentchange in the error signal.

Alternatively, the delay stages 13 a and 13 b may be located after,respectively, the first and second comparators 15, 19, to delay thefirst and second bipolar signals. Also, the delay stages 13 a and 13 bmay be omitted if the filters 14 a and 14 b provide any desired delay.

Optionally, the scaling controller 20 may comprise a filter 23 coupledbetween the input 22 and the comparator 24 for filtering the errorsignal to reduce noise. However, the filter 23 may introduce a delaywhich may lead to instability unless further precautions are taken. Inthis case, the filters 14 a and 14 b and/or the delay stages 13 a and 13b may be arranged to provide a compensating delay for the modulationsignal and the phase signal.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a block schematic diagram of awireless communication device 400, such as a mobile telephone,comprising a transmitter 410 and a receiver 420 coupled to an antenna440. There is a frequency generator 430 which comprises an embodiment ofa phase locked loop in accordance with the description herein, forexample the phase locked loop 500 illustrated in FIG. 1, including thecalibrator 100 and the phase locked loop module 200, and a referenceoscillator (not illustrated) coupled to the input 205 of the phase lockmodule 200 for generating the reference signal. There is a basebandprocessor 450 coupled to frequency generator 430 for providing amodulation signal to the frequency generator 430, coupled to thetransmitter 410 for controlling the transmitter, and coupled to thereceiver 420 for controlling the receiver 420 and for processingreceived signals. The frequency generator 430 is coupled to thetransmitter 410 via the output 260 for providing a modulated carriersignal for transmission, and to the receiver 420 for providing a localoscillator for use by the receiver 420.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a phaselocked loop which is equipped for two-point modulation, the calibrator100 may also be used to calibrate a phase locked loop that employssingle point modulation, or that is unmodulated for the majority oftime, with the modulation being supplied only when calibration of theoscillator gain is desirable. Similarly, embodiments are not limited touse with a phase locked loop that comprises a divider, or specifically adivider having a variable division ratio.

The calibrator 100, and in particular the sign detector 10 and scalingcontroller 20, described above may be implemented in analog or digitalhardware or in software stored in a memory medium and executed by aprocessor. Other embodiments of the sign detector 10 and scalingcontroller 20 may be used. For example, although embodiments of the signdetector 10 and the scaling controller 20 have been described which usebipolar signals, alternatively these elements may be designed to processsignals of other types, in particular multilevel signals, analogsignals, or monopolar signals.

In particular, the use of comparators 15, 19 and 24 that output binaryvalues is not essential, but is merely an example implementation.Instead, any or all of the modulation signal, the phase signal, and theerror signal may be processed as analog signals or multi-value digitalsignals. The indication at the output of the sign detector 10 of whetherthe modulation signal and the phase of the modulation signal have thesame sign can have any form, such as an analog signal or a digitalvalue, and need not be a three level signal as described in relation tothe embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 illustrates a system 800 having processor 810 and a memory 820.The processor 810 is configured to execute instructions stored in thememory 820. The instructions cause the processor 810 to perform one ormore embodiments of the methods described herein. As illustrated, theinstructions cause the processor to execute a sign detection module 830and a scaling control module 840 and a phase lock module 850.

For the sake of completeness it is also stated that the term“comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, the term “a” or“an” does not exclude a plurality, a single processor or other unit mayfulfill the functions of several means recited in the claims andreference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting thescope of the claims.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams and examples.Insofar as such block diagrams and examples contain one or morefunctions and/or operations, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams,flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/orcollectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, orvirtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the presentsubject matter may be implemented via Application Specific IntegratedCircuits (ASICs). However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can beequivalently implemented in standard integrated circuits, as one or morecomputer programs executed by one or more computers (e.g., as one ormore programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or moreprograms executed by on one or more controllers (e.g., microcontrollers)as one or more programs executed by one or more processors (e.g.,microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof,and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for thesoftware and or firmware would be well within the skill of one ofordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this disclosure.

When logic is implemented as software and stored in memory, logic orinformation can be stored on any computer-readable medium for use by orin connection with any processor-related system or method. In thecontext of this disclosure, a memory is a computer-readable medium thatis an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or meansthat contains or stores a computer and/or processor program. Logicand/or the information can be embodied in any computer-readable mediumfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system,processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch theinstructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or deviceand execute the instructions associated with logic and/or information.

In the context of this specification, a “computer-readable medium” canbe any element that can store the program associated with logic and/orinformation for use by or in connection with the instruction executionsystem, apparatus, and/or device. The computer-readable medium can be,for example, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus or device.More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablemedium would include the following: a portable computer diskette(magnetic, compact flash card, secure digital, or the like), a randomaccess memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory), a portable compactdisc read-only memory (CDROM), digital tape. Note that thecomputer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable mediumupon which the program associated with logic and/or information isprinted, as the program can be electronically captured, via for instanceoptical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled,interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary,and then stored in memory.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patentapplications and non-patent publications referred to in thisspecification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, areincorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of theembodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of thevarious patents, applications and publications to provide yet furtherembodiments.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

1. An apparatus to control a modulation signal for modulating a phaselocked loop, the phase locked loop providing an error signal indicativeof a phase error in the phase locked loop, the apparatus comprising: ascaling controller configured to generate a scaling control signaldependent on the error signal for controlling scaling of the modulationsignal; and a sign detector configured to generate an indication of asign of the modulation signal relative to a sign of a phase of themodulation signal; wherein the scaling controller is adapted to adjustthe scaling control signal in response to the indication.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the scaling controller is adapted to adjustthe scaling control signal only when the modulation signal and the phaseof the modulation signal have the same sign.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the sign detector comprises: a first comparator configured togenerate a first bipolar signal indicative of the sign of the modulationsignal relative to a first threshold value; a second comparatorconfigured to generate a second bipolar signal indicative of the sign ofthe phase of the modulation signal relative to a second threshold value;and a summer configured to generate the indication by summing the firstbipolar signal and the second bipolar signal.
 4. The apparatus of claim1 wherein the sign detector comprises a phase determination stageconfigured to generate a phase signal indicative of the phase of themodulation signal.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the sign detectorcomprises a delay stage configured to delay at least one of the firstbipolar signal and the second bipolar signal.
 6. The apparatus of claim1 wherein the sign detector comprises a first filter arranged to filterat least one of the modulation signal and a phase signal indicative ofthe phase of the modulation signal.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe scaling controller comprises: a comparator configured to generate abipolar signal indicative of the sign of the error signal relative to athreshold value; and a multiplier configured to multiply the thirdbipolar signal by said indication.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 whereinthe scaling controller comprises a first scaling stage coupled to anoutput of the multiplier and configured to control a magnitude of thescaling control signal.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the scalingcontroller comprises a filter coupled to an output of the first scalingstage.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scaling controllercomprises a second filter configured to filter the error signal.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a scaling stage for scaling themodulation signal in response to the scaling control signal.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the indication indicates whether the signof the modulation signal relative to a first threshold and the sign ofthe phase of the modulation signal relative to a second threshold arethe same.
 13. A phase locked loop, comprising: a calibrator having: asign detector configured to generate an indication of a sign of amodulation signal relative to a sign of a phase of the modulationsignal; and a scaling controller configured to generate a scalingcontrol signal dependent on an error signal indicative of a phase errorand adapted to adjust the scaling control signal in response to theindication; a variable frequency oscillator configured to generate anoscillator signal at an oscillator frequency; a phase comparatorconfigured to generate the error signal indicative of a phase differencebetween the oscillator signal and a reference signal; a loop filterconfigured to provide a filtered error signal; and a coupling stageconfigured to couple the modulation signal, scaled in response to thescaling control signal, in combination with the filtered error signal tothe variable frequency oscillator for controlling the oscillatorfrequency.
 14. The phase locked loop of claim 13, further comprising adivider configured to divide the oscillator signal, and wherein theerror signal is indicative of a phase difference between the dividedoscillator signal and a reference signal.
 15. The phase locked loop ofclaim 14, wherein the divider is adapted to divide the oscillator signalusing a variable division ratio, and the divider comprises an input, thedivider configured to vary the division ratio in response to the phaseof the modulation signal.
 16. The phase locked loop of claim 13 whereinthe sign detector comprises: a first comparator configured to generate afirst bipolar signal indicative of the sign of the modulation signalrelative to a first threshold value; a second comparator configured togenerate a second bipolar signal indicative of the sign of the phase ofthe modulation signal relative to a second threshold value; a summerconfigured to generate the indication by summing the first bipolarsignal and the second bipolar signal; and a delay stage configured tocompensate for a delay between a change in the modulation signal and aconsequent change in the error signal.
 17. A wireless communicationdevice, comprising: a calibrator having: a sign detector configured togenerate an indication of a sign of a modulation signal relative to asign of a phase of the modulation signal; and a scaling controllerconfigured to generate a scaling control signal dependent on an errorsignal indicative of a phase error and adapted to adjust the scalingcontrol signal in response to the indication; a variable frequencyoscillator configured to generate an oscillator signal at an oscillatorfrequency; a phase comparator configured to generate the error signalindicative of a phase difference between the oscillator signal and areference signal; a loop filter configured to provide a filtered errorsignal; and a coupling stage configured to couple the modulation signal,scaled in response to the scaling control signal, in combination withthe filtered error signal to the variable frequency oscillator forcontrolling the oscillator frequency.
 18. A method for controlling amodulation signal for modulating a phase locked loop, the phase lockedloop providing an error signal indicative of a phase error in the phaselocked loop, the method comprising: generating a scaling control signaldependent on the error signal to controlling scaling of the modulationsignal; generating an indication of a sign of the modulation signalrelative to a sign of a phase of the modulation signal; and adjustingthe scaling control signal in response to the indication.
 19. The methodof claim 18 wherein the scaling control signal is adjusted only when themodulation signal and the phase of the modulation signal have the samesign.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein generating the indicationcomprises determining whether the sign of the modulation signal relativeto a first threshold and the sign of the phase of the modulation signalrelative to a second threshold are the same.
 21. A non-transitorycomputer readable memory medium comprising contents that cause acomputing device to implement a method of modulating a phase lock loop,the method including: generating a scaling control signal dependent onan error signal indicative of a phase error in the phase lock loop tocontrolling scaling of a modulation signal; generating an indication ofa sign of the modulation signal relative to a sign of a phase of themodulation signal; and adjusting the scaling control signal in responseto the indication.
 22. The non-transitory computer readable memorymedium of claim 21 wherein the scaling control signal is adjusted onlywhen the modulation signal and the phase of the modulation signal havethe same sign.
 23. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium ofclaim 21 wherein generating the indication comprises determining whetherthe sign of the modulation signal relative to a first threshold and thesign of the phase of the modulation signal relative to a secondthreshold are the same.
 24. A system comprising: means for generating ascaling control signal dependent on an error signal indicative of aphase error in a phase lock loop to controlling scaling of a modulationsignal; means for generating an indication of a sign of the modulationsignal relative to a sign of a phase of the modulation signal; and meansfor adjusting the scaling control signal in response to the indication.25. The system of claim 24 wherein the means for adjusting is configuredto adjust the scaling control signal only when the modulation signal andthe phase of the modulation signal have the same sign.
 26. The system ofclaim 24 wherein the means for generating the indication is configuredto determine whether the sign of the modulation signal relative to afirst threshold and the sign of the phase of the modulation signalrelative to a second threshold are the same.